4 minute read
Local solutions sought for primary health care in the after-hours period
In addition to the continued services of the Wagga GP After Hours Service and the Wagga Women’s Health Centre, work continued on regional approaches to after hours primary healthcare with pilot locations determined to devise tailored solutions.
For many people living in regional and rural communities, accessing primary healthcare services for urgent health concerns when their GP is closed often results in a trip to the emergency department. After the 2020/2021 review into after hours primary care services across the region, MPHN commissioned Larter Consulting to undertake co-design activities to develop flexible and locally appropriate options for accessing primary health care services outside of regular working hours. In March 2022 work commenced on stakeholder consultation and co-design in Griffith and Leeton, and across the catchment of Berrigan, Finley and Deniliquin. The stakeholders engaged included community members, health workforce from general practice, Aboriginal medical services, pharmacy, and aged care, as well as community based local health advisory groups and councils. MPHN’s Executive Integration and Partnerships Narelle Mills said findings from the consultations and co-design sessions shows a one-size-fits-all approach is not always the solution. “We need to work directly with communities to develop suitable after hours measures that take into consideration the local workforce constraints, and what services would be used by the community. This could be anything from supporting general practices and pharmacy to provide services in the after hours period, upskilling existing workforce, to looking at commissioning telehealth services” Narelle explains. “The best possible care option for people with urgent, nonlife threatening concerns is to see their regular GP. If the GP is not available in the after hours period, then establishing services that are linked to their regular GP is critical to ensuring continuity and coordination of care. I’m looking forward to continuing the pilot initiatives and learning how we can provide further support to other communities.” For people living in or near to Wagga Wagga, the Wagga GP After Hours Service provides people with another option to access care. It’s a well accessed service with the 43 GPs on a rotational roster from eight Wagga Wagga clinics, undertaking 4,885 patient consultations and 123 home visits to residential aged care facilities. Chair of Wagga GP After Hours Service Management Committee A/Prof Ayman Shenouda said the commitment from the staff is exemplary.
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WHAT THEY SAID
“Thank you for rescuing me.” “I feel so much better after talking to you. I know what my options are.” “I’m so grateful for this service and the staff.” “It felt great to get stuff off my chest.” “That was easier than I thought it would be. You made it very comfortable.” “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Congratulations to the WGPAHS team who have contributed 10 years or more of service
• A/Prof Ayman Shenouda • Dr Samiah Azab • Dr Enas Aziz • Dr Jodi Culbert • Dr Megan Elliott-Rudder • Dr Alison Gilmour • Dr Carl Henman • Dr Lee Jeffery • Dr Hanaa Mishricky • Dr Charles Oliver • Dr Joanne Osborne • Dr Enas Sedrak • Dr Marietjie van der Merwe • Julie Bailey • Jan Campbell (retired November 2021) • Sarah Larwood • Sharon Rogers (retired January 2022)
“Given the challenges for medical practices in the current operating environment, the fact that all service staff, both clinical and support, continue to provide this important primary healthcare service to the community of Wagga Wagga, 365 days per year, is an amazing achievement,” A/ Prof Shenouda praises. “This year we have seen increased consultations, and as we moved into winter, the flu season and increased COVID positive cases resulted in peak demand for the service. This coincided with increasing demand at the emergency department, and as part of the combined MPHN and MLHD winter strategy, the clinic was able to increase shifts and a broader marketing campaign undertaken to promote the various options for after hours care.” While the Wagga Women’s Health Centre is located in Wagga, services to support women experiencing family violence is available region wide. MPHN’s Portfolio Manager Maya De Mattia said geography and COVID-19 restrictions have enabled the service to pivot to provide more telehealth services. “The Wagga Women’s Health Centre has successfully moved to providing more telehealth services for women to be able to access individual counselling services. Access to traumainformed counselling services using both a mix of in-person and telehealth options has been a focus for both individual and group sessions. However, most importantly, women have the ability to access services after hours,” Maya explains. Participants accessing after hours services find them valuable with one client saying she could “engage in counselling on a day when I don’t have to work and can spend time after the appointment focusing on my emotional wellbeing and self care, rather than rushing back to work.” While one Sunday Yoga participant says she feels “more relaxed and helps my blood pressure”. Maya said the positive feedback shows how the service supports the safety of women experiencing family and domestic violence. “The women accessing the various after hours services have trust in the employees and they feel respected and valued. This goes a long way to building their individual self-esteem and self-worth, and community connections, while simultaneously reducing social isolation and loneliness.”
WHAT THEY SAID
Wagga GP After Hours Service patient
